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Sulfide

Goldfieldite

(Cu₄   ₂)Cu₆Te₄S₁₃
Hardness3–3.5
Crystal systemCubic
ClassSulfide
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Goldfieldite specimen

Goldfieldite, Cu12(Te,Sb,As)4S13, is a lead-grey colored metallic mineral. It occurs with marcasite and with sulfides in copper ore. — Photo: Darla Sondrol · CC0

Goldfieldite

Goldfieldite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula (Cu₄   ₂)Cu₆Te₄S₁₃.

It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group I-43m). It is a member of the Tetrahedrite structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 3–3.5; specific gravity 4.95; Metallic. R: (400) 30.7, (420) 30.7, (440) 30.7, (460) 30.7, (480) 30.7, (500) 30.7, (520) 30.6, (540) 30.6 luster.

IMA symbol Gf, IMA status: approved, named in 1909.

Found in epithermal gold-bearing veins; less commonly in porphyry copper and volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.

It is found associated with Marcasite, famatinite, tennantite, hessite, petzite, sylvanite, altaite, chalcostibite, emplectite, gold, kuramite, bismuthinite, pyrite, sphalerite.

The name commemorates the type locality, Goldfield, Nevada, USA.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more G minerals or help write this entry.